THE AGUSANON MANOBO

The Manobo of Trento recalled that their descent belongs to the lineage of Apo Bonlak. Accordingly,
before the “Great Flood” by the time of Noah, in the prominent mountains located in the province of
Bukidnon namely: Mount Kitanglad and Mountain of Kalatungan there stood the communities of the
native people. They were said to live by the vast forest.

Suddenly, a great flood came that wiped out the communities of the people in Mt. Kalatungan and Mt.
Kitanglad. However, among the vanished members there’s a man who remains alive in Mt. Kitanglad and
a woman in Mt. Kalatungan, whose both names cannot be further recalled by the informants. From then
and there, these individuals met and decided to live together. From this point, Apo Agbebelin is given
birth. He was nurtured and trained by practicing forester’s lifeways and the steward of the environment.
When he grew up, he met a woman whose identity is unknown then marry her.

Apo Agbebelin and his wife, gave birth to the three children namely: Mamalu, Tabunaway and Sumaputi.
These children had grown to the same area where their parents lived. When they grow up, the siblings
have their individual principles and took each fate. Tabunaway embraces the Islamic beliefs and principles.
Sumaputi wandered around Mindanao until he reached the coast area, the now called Davao Oriental. In
fact, today, a place called Maputi is found in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental which was believed was named
after Sumaputi. However, Mamalu remained in the jurisdiction left by his parents.

Mamalu met a woman and they got married. While living together, they begot two children namely: Agyo
and Bonlak. Just like their parents, both of them grew up in the area of Mamalu. Years later, when they
grow enough, the siblings decided to wander, however, Agyo decided to remain in the territory of his
father or today, the vast territory that is politically called Bukidnon Provinces. Apo Agyo’s descendant
were dividing their native group according to what they call their selves, the following are: the groups of
Talaandig, the Manobos of Bukidnon, and their sub-groups. While Bonlak, conquered the areas in
Umayam, Maasam, Agusan, Adgawan and other territories stood in the bank of the large rivers.
Accordingly, Bonlak also reached Surigao, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte areas and established
communities. Apo Bonlak’s descendants are the groups of Manobos, other Mandaya and Mansaka groups,
and the group of Dibabawons. After conquering all these territories, Apo Bonlak and the remaining of his
people, settled in Agusan valley. He then got married to a woman and gave birth to Baybaejan, whose
descendants flourish in the Municipality of Loreto, La Paz, and other municipalities under Agusan Valleys.

According to the clans of the Manobo in Trento, their families claimed to be the descendants of Apo
Bonlak. However, they cannot further connect due to the gaps in each generation in between. The clan of
Blanco, Manaytay, Escio, Abiao, Ubo, Fuentes, Pondong and other clans and those indirect connected
families are a Manobo by blood original in their respective territories.